Hi, Erica from Erica's Ed-Ventures here. I wanted to share with you some photos from my farmhouse / fixer upper style themed classroom. I did keep the original furniture from my polka dot themed room and changed out all my bright bins and bright accents to burlap and galvanized metal.

Back in 2011, I helped lead a pretty sizable blog book study with this fantastic book! I did a little resource roundup and if you are feeling like a boatload of summer free files, let me tell you where to start!

Here are just a few of the things you will find!

Swing on by. Warning... it will be a bit like a scavenger hunt as you got through the posts, but click HERE to get started!

Hey there Blog Hoppers! It's Christy and Tammy from Fluttering Through First Grade! Getting our class to listen consistently can be one of our bigger challenges in today's classroom. Kids today just have a lot to say! So, we've made it our lesson plan mission to get our kids actively listening and participating in their learning every day, in every way.

Here are a few of our favorite tips and tricks for getting kids to listen in the classroom!

Providing expectations for listening in our classroom sets the stage for success. We love keeping visual reminders for all sorts of things in our class, and listening is no exception. This Listen reminder hangs front and center in our classroom to remind students how they should be listening from head to toe.

Sometimes, you've just got to sing the listening into them! When things get chatty, we get chiming. All it takes is a few of our future The Voice contestants to join our melody and before we know it they're all singing along about listening and not talking anymore. Score!

One of the best things we've created for our classroom to support their developing listening skills are our Listen Up Auditory Activities. They help focus our students' attention first thing in the morning, after recess, before lunch, at the end of the day, in centers, whole group, with parent volunteers, with a substitute teacher...Pretty much anytime of day!

Holding students accountable for their listening is a huge part of our Listen Up program. We ask them to reflect so we can better understand their understanding (informal assessment) and we use the reflection slips as an opportunity to conference individually with students for various reasons.

Data tracking their Listen Up skills helps us intervene as necessary as well as conference efficiently with parents!

·Keynote
Speaker: None other than PRINCIPAL GERRY will be there
to uplift, inspire, and create a room full of laughter

·Teaching, TPT, Blogging Round-table and Workshop Sessions: We will send
out a survey asking for topics of interest and we invite you to submit a
round-table proposal as well.

·Dinner
Reservations at Resort Restaurant/s:(OPTIONAL) Meet up for dinner at one of the
resort’s casual, but classy restaurants.

·Since everyone who is a teacher knows they
went into this profession for the fame and fortune (ya, right!!)……We will be
rolling out the red carpet for you as we invite you to dress up as your
favorite star, pose for the paparazzi, and fabulous fun with friends!(Heavy hors d’oeuvres, non-alcoholic
beverages, photo booth pictures and party favors included.There will also be a cash bar.)

Sunday,
March 19th

·9:30 am - Sunday
Breakfast/Brunch:(OPTIONAL) Meet at the resort’s famous
breakfast buffet for our last gathering of good food, good conversation, and
goodbyes!

The
cost for attending this event is $75, which includes your lunch and beverages, a
portion of the room fees and our Saturday night social event (including food
and non-alcoholic drinks).This is the
ONLY required fee for the entire weekend! The rest of the event (hotel
fees, if you choose to stay on site, and the remainder of the meal fees will be
on your own, based on your choices!). If you live close, you may choose
to drive in for the day. This fee needs to be paid by Feb.12 to guarantee
your registration. Also, note that due to the increasing popularity of
this event, registration may have to be limited due to size. (More
details for payment will be posted on our private FB meet-up/retreat group
page.)

Wondering
if this event is something you might be interested in? Check out what
some of last year's attendees have to say...

Hannah F. “Last year was my
first year at French Lick and I was so nervous! I remember driving up there and
imagining all the things that could go wrong! (of course) But, when I arrived I
was overwhelmed with the kindness of every single person there. Everyone felt
like they belonged and they did! The whole weekend was full of fun activities
that helped me grow as a teacher and as a person. I made so many brand new
friendships that I will carry with me forever. I remember driving away feeling
refreshed and so ready to get back into my classroom! This weekend will refresh
your love for teaching from the very instant you step into the hotel! “

Heidi N. "It was so refreshing to be
surrounded by like minded teachers! I left the weekend with new
perspective, new ideas, and a lot of new friends!"

Maja A. "Last year's meet up inspired me
to do so many new things, I finished out the school year strong with the things
I learned from the other teacher/bloggers there! I am so excited for this
years meet up!"

Are you ready to sign up for a star-studded
weekend of fun?Simply clickHERE to register for the
event.

Blog Hoppin' is a collaborative blog of educators from various grade levels and is in NO way affiliated with the owners of Teachers Pay Teachers {TpT/teacherspayteachers.com} The opinions and ideas expressed on this site are reflective of the individual educator/author. Thank you.